Posted on 2 June 2023

From June 3 and until June 17, 2023, the relics of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux and her holy parents Louis and Zélie will travel to Italy and will meet the parishes and communities of Rome every day.

Program in italiano

Prepared for several months by the Pontifical College of Russicum (a formation institution
clergy for the Catholic clergy of Eastern origin - welcoming in particular seminarians of Russian and Ukrainian nationality, a seminary having been founded under the patronage of Saint Thérèse, an exceptional peregrination of the relics of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux and her parents opens this Saturday June 3, 2023.
Organized within the framework of the double Jubilee of the 150th anniversary of the birth of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the 100th anniversary of her beatification, the relics of "the greatest saint of modern times", as described by Pius X, patroness of the missions and one of the four Doctors of the Church, will visit Rome from June 6 to 16 after two stops in two Italian dioceses.

On this occasion, the Holy See has requested the presence of the Holy Relics in St. Peter's Square during the general audience of Pope Francis, Wednesday June 7, 2023 at 9 a.m.
From June 5 to 7, a Norman delegation will accompany the relics alongside the Roman Institutions which will receive the reliquaries throughout the pilgrimage: the College of Russicum of course, the Church of Saint-Louis des Français, the Teresianum (pontifical faculty of theology founded by the Order of Discalced Carmelites, etc.).
The Norman delegation is made up of the two bishops of the dioceses of Bayeux and Lisieux (Monsignor Jacques Habert) and of Alençon (Monsignor Bruno Feilet), the two rectors: of the sanctuary of Thérèse of Lisieux (Father Olivier Ruffray) as well as Louis and Zélie Martin (Father Thierry Hénault-Morel). They will be accompanied by the Mayor of Lisieux (Mr. Sébastien Leclerc) and the President of the Community of Agglomeration Lisieux-Normandy (Mr. François Aubey). After the highlight with the Holy Father, an official reception is organized by the French Embassy near
the Holy See continued with a mass in the Church of Saint-Louis des Français in Rome presided over by Cardinal Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State.


Complete program of the pilgrimage
  • Saturday June 3 : departure of the relics from the Sanctuary of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux (Normandy)
  • Sunday, June 4 : Welcome by the Diocese of Mantua
  • Monday June 5 : Visit of the faithful of Reggio Emilia
  • Tuesday June 6 : Arrival of the relics in Rome at the Pontifical College of Russicum – Opening celebration presided over by Cardinal Tagle
  • Wednesday, June 7 :

9 a.m. - General Audience of Pope Francis in the presence of the two reliquaries, Saint Peter's Square (Vatican) - special ceremony dedicated to Saint Thérèse and her parents

12 p.m.- Official reception by the French Embassy to the Holy See at Villa Bonaparte

Late afternoon organized by Saint Louis of the French and the Pious Establishments of Rome and Lorette: 18 p.m. Conference by Bro. François-Marie Lethel ocd Thérèse of Lisieux, “a saint for a time of crisis – Center culturel Saint-Louis the French

19 p.m. Mass presided by Cardinal Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State

20 p.m. Vigil and night of adoration in the presence of the relics

  • June 8-9 : reception of the relics during the colloquium at the Pontifical Faculty of Theology: the Teresianum with more than a hundred Carmelites and Carmelites from all over the world: great vigil and night of veneration of the relics
  • 9 June : Visit of the Parish of Sainte Anne for the Feast of Saint Anne.
  • 11 June : Reception of the relics in the Church of the Center of the Discalced Carmelites, Corso Italia
  • 12 June : the Paroisse di Tor Bella Monaca, animates a day of festivities in the presence of the faithful who have launched a year ago a lectio divina from the work of Saint Thérèse,
  • June 13/14 : Reception of relics in the Youth Prison
  • 15 June : Parish on the outskirts of Corviale. Mass presided by Cardinal Comastri. : Visit to the parish of Regina Mundi di Tr Spaccata
  • 16 June : Vigil and Closing Mass of the pilgrimage presided over by Cardinal De Donatis, Vicar of the Holy Father. Readings and songs from 18 p.m. to 6 a.m. around the Story of a Soul, by Saint Thérèse of Lisieux: 2nd most published work in the world after the Bible
  • 17 June : Return trip to the Sanctuary of Lisieux – relics halt in a parish in Piedmont